Blue Jays' off-season roadmap: Who to acquire, who to cut loose - Sportsnet.ca
More realistically speaking, here’s what I believe a successful off-season would look like in Toronto…
1.) Decline Yangervis Solarte’s option, exercise Justin Smoak’s option
2.) DFA Dalton Pompey
Once the Blue Jays need to clear 40-man space for Rule 5-eligible prospects, it makes sense to part with Pompey, who’s clearly no longer part of the team’s plans. Don’t expect much of a return for the switch-hitter, who might benefit from a fresh start.
3.) Trade Russell Martin and $16 of his $20 million to a contender for a C prospect
4.) Trade Kendrys Morales and $10 of $12 million for a D prospect
5.) Listen to trade offers for Kevin Pillar, Randal Grichuk, Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez and Ken Giles
6.) Trade Aledmys Diaz to a contender for pitching
7.) Sign a starting pitcher to a short-term deal
.) Tender most arbitration-eligible players
There’s a case to be made for tendering every arbitration eligible player except Solarte and reliever Jake Petricka. Credit Petricka for putting together a bounce-back season, but his projected $1.7 million salary looks high.
9.) Add more starting pitching
10.) Slow-play the free agent relief market
Results
Additions: Sonny Gray, Trevor Cahill, Adam Conley, two veteran relievers, one starting pitcher on a minor-league deal, three low-level prospects
Subtractions: Yangervis Solarte, Dalton Pompey, Russell Martin, Kendrys Morales, Aledmys Diaz, Jake Petricka, Max Pentecost, Justin Shafer
That’s a lot of departures, but the Blue Jays keep all their top prospects and controllable players in this scenario. The resulting team would have more playing time for young players looking to establish themselves at the MLB level, and from Giles on down, there would also be lots of interesting pitching to trade next summer. All told, this version of the Blue Jays would likely cost $125-130 million.
My prediction for Martin;
I predict Martin traded to the Dodgers for nothing of real face value and the Jays retaining at least 15M likely more.
Grandal is a FA and the Dodgers likely can’t re-sign him with their financial situation and likely don’t want to do they can save money for other free agents. Plus they have a top catching prospect in Ruiz in AA, one year of Martin should give him enough time.
Jays clear a spot for their catchers with multiple years of control and roll with Jansen and Maile with McGuire in Buffalo and the abundance of catching depth behind him.
Martin's defence was still worth a win this past season, and the guy is an elite game caller. If you're just giving him away, then I don't see the reason in retaining close to that much in salary.
...Houston argued that it directed McLaughlin to surveil the opposing dugouts to ensure their opponents weren’t using any illegal tactics to steal the Astros’ signs. In other words: The Astros were making sure the Indians and Red Sox weren’t doing something wrong.“We were playing defense,” Astros president of baseball operations Jeff Luhnow said. “We were not playing offense. We want to make sure it’s an even playing field.”
Martin's defence was still worth a win this past season, and the guy is an elite game caller. If you're just giving him away, then I don't see the reason in retaining close to that much in salary.
Chavez Young should be on there.
My "nothing of face value comment" isnt a shot at Martin as you can get prospects who arent high on lists but have potential to turn into something. I hope to not get a JB Woodman type and more of Guzman/Abreu type that the Astros give up for McCann.
I would also argue that Martin WAS an elite defender.
Last Season: Major League Leaderboards » 2018 » Catchers » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball
Last 3 seasons: Major League Leaderboards » 2018 » Catchers » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball
Im not arguing that he doesnt have value but his value has taken a big hit over the last few season based on his bat, defense, age and injury history. Likely cant be a 500 PA starter anymore or at least relied to be that.
You can also get comparable guys or guys who have been better in 2017 and 2018 in Lucroy, McCann, Ramos, Suzuki, Chirinos etc. in free agency so there are many other options in the catching market to dilute Martin's return.
Major League Leaderboards » 2018 » Catchers » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball
Not to mention guys like Grandal and Realamuto who will likely be moved. I wouldnt expect a serviceable return at face value.
Just my thoughts.
Yeah, he's also too high on Paulino and Tellez, and is missing Kloffenstein (top-15), Diaz (top-20), Murphy (top-25) and Otto Lopez (top-30).
Not bad otherwise.
Yeah, I feel you. There has to be a line somewhere though, or it's just chaos (I get that it's naivete to think there's no sign-stealing happening). I think not using technology is reasonable. So I'm on board with the people saying MLB should come down harder.Luhnow does come from the school of sports espionage, even though he himself was a victim of it.
Yeah, I feel you. There has to be a line somewhere though, or it's just chaos (I get that it's naivete to think there's no sign-stealing happening). I think not using technology is reasonable. So I'm on board with the people saying MLB should come down harder.
Lucroy and McCann definitely haven't been better the last couple years. The others have been, for sure, but they're likely to find a starting job that pays more somewhere. But even then, it depends what each team is looking for:
DRS the last three years:
Martin +17
Lucroy -22
McCann -10
Suzuki -15
Ramos -11
Chirinos -10
Per-game framing value in 2018 (because I don't know how to find multi-year framing stats):
Martin +0.52
Lucroy -0.67
McCann -0.35
Suzuki -1.49
Ramos -0.88
Chirinos -1.05
Want someone who's good behind the plate? It's Martin, and the other guys aren't even remotely close to his level. I think that's what most teams are looking for from a veteran backup: a good defender/framer who works well with the pitching staff. It's the only position I actually put value in the old "veteran presence/leadership" thing.